Icarus On Elysian Fields is a selected work of poetry written by T. Edward Gray between 1997 - 2005 while living in New Orleans. Capturing this moment in time before the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, these poems explore the rich religious and cultural history of the city, infusing classical elements of Greek literature and unique experience to create an intense personal mythology. The collection is divided according to the disciplines represented by the 9 Muses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory) which also happen to be the names of the streets in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans where the poems came to life. Though at first the Muses were indistinguishable from each other, over time each developed her own special field. Clio was Muse of history, Erato the Muse of love poetry, Urania of astronomy, Terpsichore of the dance, Thalia of comedy, Polyhymnia of songs to the gods, Melpomene of tragedy, Euterpe of lyric poetry and Calliope of epic poetry.
About the Author: T. Edward Gray *** Born September 18,1970, raised in Atlanta, GA. Graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, class of '91. After spending many years writing and performing poetry, he founded Odd Man Out Theater Company, 2001. First reading was Famous Last Words, I & II, a collection of actor monologues in 2002 and 2003. The Money Show (group show) was performed at The Big Top (NOLA) in 2003. First one act performance was The Shakespeare Show at Dramarama (CAC, NOLA) in 2004, followed by the one act The Masterpiece (Dramarama, 2005). The Minotuar's Dream was the first full length production, produced at The Pantheon Gallery (NOLA) in 2003 and later revived at 7 Stages (Atlanta, GA) for a 2 week run in 2010. Trains (a dark dark comedy, with music) opened at The Bay St. Louis Little Theatre in June 2005 and ended the 3 week run at The Big Top (NOLA). (insert giant soul crushing storm here - X ) My last performance in NOLA was Icarus On Elysian Fields (poem, long monologue) at Dramarama 2006. The Hottest Ticket In Town was workshopped in 2009 at Danneman's in Atlanta, GA, and later at The Paul Robeson Theatre in Atlanta, GA, 2012. Shakespeare Follies, a vaudeville/variety show based on the works of Shakespeare, began in 2010 - it is now in its 6th season with over 50 unique performances of 200+ individual scenes and vaudeville/variety acts. Shakespeare Follies has played at Danneman's, 7 Stages, Jungle, Smith's Olde Bar, and The Paul Robeson Theatre over its 5 year run. Currently in workshop table reads are Rough Trade (one act, May 2015) and Burn (full length, Spring 2016). Playwright In Residence at the Paul Robeson Theatre (2011-2014), Arts Exchange. Nominee: Best Playwright, GA Voice, Atlanta, GA 2013 & 2014. Avid reader of Greek Mythology, recovering poet, somnambulist, oenophile, lover of all things bacon. Icarus On Elysian Fields is his first published collection of poems.